The eagerly awaited brewery begun by two of Oregon’s star brewers — Ben Love, formerly of Hopworks and Pelican Brewing and Van Havig, late of Rock Bottom — opens its tasting room on May 9. Their beers have already won at least one People’s Choice award, and the brilliant IPA I tried at last week’s Oregon Garden Brewfest makes me want to try the rest of the line-up.

AHA BIG BREW/IRON BREWER COMPETITION

FoystonLongtime homebrewer Michel Brown at a brewing class he taught at F.H. Steinbart.

If you’ve ever been interested in learning to brew your own beer, Saturday is the day when homebrew shops and homebrewers across the country will be all be brewing the same beer. Watch free demonstration brews at F.H. Steinbart Co. Plew’s Brews or a homebrew shop near4 you. Now in its 15th year, the American Homebrewers Association Big Brew celebrates National Homebrew Day and brings together thousands ofhomebrewers from around the world. More than 5,000homebrewers from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Australia are expected to participate this year. Homebrewers may register their AHA Big Brew sites online at HomebrewersAssociation.org. And have a pint of homebrewed beer handy at 3 p.m. PST Saturday, when homebrewers raise a s’round-the-world toast to homebrewing, a hobby that hundreds of thousands of people enjoy.

Jade will be hosting a private dinner in their new upstairs dining room in honor of new book, “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen.” The meal will feature five courses from the book, including dessert from Crave Bake Shop and beer pairings from Harvester Brewing. Books will be for sale as well,

Join Concordia Ale House and support Portland’s smallest new brewery for a special side -by- side Humble Brewing Co. Stout tasting of Humble Stout and Not-So-Humble Stout. Here's the info on each:1. Humble Stout: American Ale II yeast, 6.0% ABV, 54 IBU2. Not-So-Humble Stout: French Saison yeast, 6.8% ABV, 54 IBUCompare the two head to head and sample the different flavors

It's time for another team effort as Migration Brewing partners with Camp Cascadia on a great outdoor/indoor Cinco de Mayo party at the pub --- a benefit to raise awareness and raise money for a local family. The day starts with a cornhole tourney with $100 gift certificate to the winner, and continues with a full day of music featuring Jackelope Saints, Whistle Pig, Pagan Jug Band, and the Student Loan until 10 p.m., when they’ll move the party indoors with DJ Mach 1 spinning til midnight.

The Beermongers and Speakeasy rep Brandon tap three special Speakeasy draft beers direct from the Bay Area: Scarface Imperial Stout;Untouchable Pale Ale and Vendetta Imperial IPA. According to newest BeerMonger Jim, they also hope to be sampling the rest of their lineup from bottles and have Speakeasy schwag to give away. A TOAST TO TWILIGHT AND HOP IN THE DARK 11am -11pm, Tuesday May 8, Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House, 210 NW 11th Ave.;

Deschutes is combining their pub release parties for Twilight and Hop in the Dark for a couple of evenings full of craft beer lovin’ goodness in Bend and Portland. Pub chefs will create some treats to perfectly complement each respective beer, plus they’ll have swag and good stuff to help you celebrate. A special sample menu will be available that includes a half pint of each beer (Twilight Summer Ale & Hop in the Dark) paired perfectly with some special dishes cooked up just for the party.

Pork Fest is a celebration of the nation’s finest pork products and pig-themed beer. The day includes Pig Facts 101 by the Oregon Pork Producers, growler fill-up stations, a pig coloring contest for the kids, Corn Hole and Pin the Tail on the Pig, bacon poetry reading and contests and celebrity Pot-Belly Pigs Voo & Doo. Participating breweries include: Blind Pig, Whistling Pig, and Slippery Pig as well as local favorites like Oakshire, Ninkasi, and Falling Sky. Festival goers will enjoy: